In the laws which God gave for the cultivation of the soil, He was giving the people opportunity to overcome their selfishness and become heavenly-minded. Canaan would be to them as Eden if they obeyed the Word of the Lord. Through them the Lord designed to teach all the nations of the world how to cultivate the soil so that it would yield healthy fruit, free from disease. The earth is the Lord’s vineyard, and is to be treated according to His plan. Those who cultivated the soil were to realize that they were doing God service. They were as truly in their lot and place as were the men appointed to minister in the priesthood and in work connected with the tabernacle. God told the people that the Levites were a gift to them, and no matter what their trade, they were to help to support them (Ibid.).{1BC 1112.7}

I de love som Gud gav til opdyrkelse af jorden, gav Han folket en anledning til at overvinde deres selviskhed og blive himmelsksindede. Kanaan ville være som et Eden for dem, hvis de adlød Herrens ord. Gennem dem havde Gud tænkt sig at lære alle verdens nationer hvordan jorden skulle dyrkes, så den ville give sunde frugter, fri fra sygdomme. Jorden er Herrens vingård, og skal behandles efter Hans plan. Dem som opdyrkede jorden skulle indse at de gør Guds tjeneste. Lige så sandt som dette var deres lod og del, var der også mennesker som var udpeget til at tjene i præsteskabet og i arbejdet med tabernaklet. Gud fortalte folk at levitterne var en gave til dem, og uanset deres opgave, skulle de hjælpe og støtte dem. (Samme)